As a general principle the use of pilot is compulsory in the
Swedish internal waters (landward of the baseline). To the larger
ports in Sweden there are designated pilotage fairways.
The Swedish Transport Agency is the authority responsible for
issuing detailed regulations on compulsory pilotage concerning the
areas where it is in force and the vessels to which it applies.
The regulations can be found in The Swedish Transport
Agency’s Regulations and General Advice (TSFS 2009:123) on
Pilotage.
The regulations regulate the possibility for the master of a
vessel or another signed on nautical officer to be granted an
exemption from compulsory pilotage.
One kind of exemption from compulsory pilotage issued by the
Swedish Transport Agency is called fairway-specific Pilot Exemption
Certificate (PEC). On 1st of November 2010 there were 975 valid
fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificates and 749 individual
holders.
A fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate can be granted
the master of a vessel or another nautical officer on the vessel. A
nautical officer other than the master may only use his or her
fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate if the master is also
in possession of a fairway-specific exemption or a general
exemption for the vessel and the fairway concerned.
A fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate can be valid for
one or more fairways (mainly designated pilotage fairways) and for
one or more vessels. It is a requirement for the applicant for such
an exemption to have successfully passed theoretical and practical
examinations in the fairway concerned. Before these examinations
take place, the vessel and the applicant shall be approved by the
Swedish Transport Agency in a review which includes a safety
assessment of the vessel and its cargo as well as an inspection of
the applicant’s certificates.
The applicant should have carried out informational passages in
both directions of the fairway as a part of the application process
for a fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate.
An informational passage is a pilotage where the pilot gives
information on safety and traffic related experiences in the
fairway.
A detailed description of the requirements to obtain a
fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate and more detailed
information about application, renewal and supplementary additions
can be found in the regulations.
The forms included in the application for a new fairway-specific
Pilot Exemption Certificate may be downloaded on the right side of
this page under DOCUMENTS.
New fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate
When the Swedish Transport Agency’s Maritime Department
receives an application for a new fairway-specific Pilot Exemption
Certificate it will be considered by the Ship Traffic Section. If
any necessary documents are missing, the applicant will be
contacted by mail or e-mail and asked to supplement the
application, a procedure which will delay the handling of the
matter. For this reason, it is important to check that all
necessary documents are included in the application from the
beginning and that contact address, telephone number and e-mail
address are stated.
If the application is complete, and if the vessel and the
applicant, have received the approval of the Swedish Transport
Agency, following a vessel safety assessment and an inspection of
the applicant’s certificates, an examination permit is
issued. The permit will be sent to the applicant and to the Swedish
Maritime Administration’s Pilot Ordering Centre in the area
concerned. The applicant may then make an appointment to take the
examinations.
The applicant shall have successfully passed the theoretical
exam before the practical examinations are carried out. Local
variations may exist. When taking the theoretical exam, the
applicant is also to present a bridge book (course book) for the
fairway.
The practical examinations should be carried out in both
directions of the fairway.
The theoretical and practical examinations are led by an
appointed pilot. Such a pilot is appointed by the Swedish Transport
Agency to lead the examinations relating to pilot exemptions.
After the examinations, the appointed pilot sends his or her
statement on the examinations to the Swedish Transport Agency.
After verification and evaluation of the examination results, the
Swedish Transport Agency decides whether or not a Pilot Exemption
Certificate can be issued.
It should be noted that in addition to the examinations, the
handling of new pilot exemption matters also includes an
administrative part.
An application for a new fairway-specific Pilot Exemption
Certificate shall contain the following supporting forms:
- Application for Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) (tick off New
Pilot Exemption Certificate)
- General conditions when using a fairway related or general
Pilot Exemption Certificate (to be signed)
- Safety Assessment Documentation (documentation is required for
each vessel that the exemption relates to)
- A copy of the valid nautical competency certificate for the
position on board
- For non-Swedish citizens: a legible copy of the
applicant’s passport shall be attached
- Verification of Informational Passages
- List of passages referred to when applying for a Pilot
Exemption Certificate
The Swedish Transport Agency charges between 13 550 and 43 500
Swedish kronor (SEK), depending on the size of the vessel and the
length of the fairway.
Renewal of fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate
A fairway-related Pilot Exemption Certificate is valid for 3
years after issuing. An application of renewal can be made at the
earliest 6 months before the date of expiry. If a renewed exemption
certificate has not been issued before the date of expiry of the
current Pilot Exemption Certificate, the certificate is not valid
and a pilot must be used. However, renewal of the Pilot Exemption
Certificate may still be made.
An application for renewal shall contain the following
supporting forms:
- Application for Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) (tick off
Renewal)
- General conditions when using a fairway related or general
Pilot Exemption Certificate (to be signed)
- Verification of passages or other documentation proving recent
experience of the fairway during the last 12 months.
- Safety Assessment Documentation (documentation is required for
each vessel that the exemption relates to)
- A copy of the valid nautical competency certificate for the
position on board
- For non-Swedish citizens: a legible copy of the
applicant’s passport shall be attached
The Swedish Transport Agency charges 6 650 Swedish kronor (SEK)
for a renewal of a fairway-specific Pilot Exemption
Certificate.
Supplementary addition to a fairway-specific Pilot Exemption
Certificate
A fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate may be
supplemented to be valid on additional vessels and, in some cases,
in fairways connecting to the fairway for which it was originally
issued. A fairway-specific Pilot Exemption Certificate may also be
supplemented to be valid when using a tugboat.
An application for a supplementary addition shall contain the
following supporting forms:
- Application for Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) (tick off
Supplementary addition)
- Safety Assessment Documentation, if the application concerns a
supplementary addition to cover additional vessels
- A copy of the valid nautical competency certificate for the
position on board
Depending on what the application for a supplementary addition
concerns, additional documentation might be requested. In some
cases, practical examinations in the fairway concerned might be
required
The Swedish Transport Agency charges 1 050 Swedish kronor (SEK)
for a supplementary addition of a fairway-specific Pilot Exemption
Certificate. A fee for an extra practical examination may be
charged, if applicable.
Remember
Give yourself a good margin (at least 4 weeks) when applying for
a renewal of or a supplementary addition to a fairway-specific
Pilot Exemption Certificate.
State the appropriate contact address, invoice address, telephone
number and e-mail address on all applications.
Contact
Applications for new fairway-specific Pilot Exemption
Certificates or applications for renewals of or supplementary
additions to such exemptions are to be sent to:
Swedish Transport Agency
Maritime Department
PO Box 653
SE-601 15 Norrköping
Matters concerning Pilot Exemption Certificates are handled
at:
Swedish Transport Agency
Ship Traffic Section
Telephone no: +46 771 503 503
Fax: +46 11 19 12 30
E-mail: sjofart@transportstyrelsen.se